抽

Classifier for Bunches

Level 4Sounds Like cau1

Use 抽 (cau1) for things that grow or are held in a bunch, like grapes, lychees, or a ring of keys.

How It Works

The classifier 抽 (cau1) is essential for describing clusters of objects in Cantonese. It is derived from the verb 抽 (cau1) meaning 'to pull' or 'to lift up' by a single point, which helps explain why it is used for items hanging together. It is most commonly used in two scenarios:

  • Natural clusters: Fruits that grow in bunches, such as 提子 (tai4 zi2 - grapes), 荔枝 (lai6 zi1 - lychees), or 龍眼 (lung4 ngaan5 - longans).
  • Artificial bunches: Objects tied or held together at a single point, most notably 鎖匙 (so2 si4 - keys) on a ring.

抽 (cau1) vs. 串 (cyun3):
Learners often confuse these two. Use 抽 (cau1) for things hanging from a common point (like keys). Use 串 (cyun3) for things threaded through or skewered (like a string of pearls or a fishball skewer). Note that while Mandarin uses 串 for grapes, Cantonese speakers often use 抽 instead, although 串 is also heard.

Idiomatic Usage:
In colloquial speech, 抽 can be used to describe a 'bunch' of people (一抽人 jat1 cau1 jan4), often with a slightly dismissive tone. It also appears in the common idiom 一抽二褦 (jat1 cau1 ji6 nang3), also written as 一抽二掕. While it can describe someone carrying many heavy bags, it is most frequently used to describe being encumbered by family responsibilities, such as having to bring along many children or elderly relatives who require constant care.

Examples (4)

  1. 呢抽提子好甜。

    This bunch of grapes is very sweet.

    Word by Word: This [classifier] grapes very sweet.

    Here, 抽 (cau1) is a common classifier for grapes in Cantonese.

  2. 我唔見咗一抽鎖匙呀！

    I lost a bunch of keys!

    Word by Word: I not see [perfective] one [classifier] keys [particle]!

    For keys on a ring, 抽 (cau1) is the most natural classifier to use.

  3. 佢拎住一抽荔枝去探朋友。

    He is carrying a bunch of lychees to visit a friend.

    Word by Word: He carry [durative] one [classifier] lychees go visit friend.

    Lychees, which grow in clusters on a branch, take the classifier 抽 (cau1).

  4. 枱上面有幾抽炮仗。

    There are a few strings of firecrackers on the table.

    Word by Word: Table top-side have a-few [classifier] firecrackers.

    Firecrackers are often bunched together at the top, making 抽 (cau1) appropriate.

Common Mistakes

  • Thinking 串 (cyun3) cannot be used for keys.

    Different Meaning我有一串鎖匙。
    我有一抽鎖匙。

    我有一串鎖匙 is natural Cantonese: 串 is used for things strung or threaded together. 抽 (cau1) is also used for a hanging bunch, such as 一抽鎖匙 or 一抽提子.

  • Using 抽 (cau1) for a single hand of bananas.

    一抽香蕉
    一梳香蕉

    The specific classifier for a 'hand' of bananas is 梳 (so1). 抽 (cau1) would only be used for a massive, heavy stalk containing many hands.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

抽Level 4Classifier for Bunches

Learn This First

'抽' is a specific classifier used for items that are strung or hanging together in a bunch. To use it correctly, learners must first understand the general role of classifiers in Cantonese and the basic grammatical structure for counting nouns.